Automatic transmitter for fire-alarm and sprinkler systems.



- PATENTED JAN. 21,1908. J. FIDDES & J. F. WATT. AUTOMATIC TRANSMITTER FOR FIRE ALARM AND SPRINKLER SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.26. 1906.

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AUTOMATIC TRANSMITTER FOR FIRE ALARM AND SPRINKLER SYSTEMS;

APPLICATION FILED 001226.1900

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UNITED STATESPATENT ornicn JAMES FIDDES AND JOIIN FORDYCE WA'IT, OF ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND, ASSIGNORS TO THE EXPANSION SPRINKLER SYNDICATE, LIMITED, OF ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMITTER FOB FIRE-ALARM AND SPRINKLER SYSTEMS.

To all whom it may concerm Be it known that we, JAMEs FIDDES and JOHN FoRDYoE WATT, .sub'ect's of the Kin of theUnited Kingdom of reat Britain an Ireland, and residing at Aberdeen, Scotland, have invented'a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Transmitters for ire-Alarm and Sprinkler Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fire alarm and sprinkler systems and has for its object to provide an instrument for the purpose of automatically communicating with a fire brigade station or other point and indicating when an automatic sprinkler or fire alarm in a building has been brought into action.

The improved instrument is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1 and 2 are vertical sections the first showin the instrument in thenormal position an the second showing it when rought into action on the fluid pressure of a sprinkler or alarmsystem being released on -ing aheavy metal or other wei having a.'connection at a to t e compressed air or water piping of the sprinkler or fire alarm system.

From a recess or pocket-A in the lower end of-the vessel A a tube B extends up into a cylinder 0 in which is fitted loosely a metal or other float D at whose up or end is a s indle E fitted with collars e, t c said spine extending through an opening in the cover C of the cylinder C. On abracket F on the cover C are pivoted the contact arms or levers G G insulated from each other, the one arm G being adjustable by a screw 9 but practically stationary and the other arm Cw aving a nose piece qfiprojecting into the path of .movement oi the collars c on the spindle and bein adapted to tilt on its pivot so as to ma e contact with the other arm or lever G. a

In the operation of the apparatus the liquid in the vessel A is forced by the pres sure of the Water'or air in a sprinkler system or by that of the air in an automatic fire Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October'ZB. 1906. Serial No. 340.641.

Patented Jan. 21, i908.

alarm system up through the tube B into the c linder C so that the metal float D rises to t e upper end as indicated at Fig. 1. On the air or water pressure beingreleased owing to the fire alarm-or sprinkler being brought into action the liquid in the cylinder C flows back i into the vessel A, the metal weight following the liquid. As the weight falls the collars e on the-spindle E in succession bear on the hose 9 of the contact maker Gr so as to tilt it and make contact with G whereby an electric circuit is closed during the time the col lar is passing the contact maker. During the time taken for the collar to pass the contact maker a receiver of well known type, such as the Siemens-Morse receiver, at the fire brigede station or other point makes a das on a strip of paper, the length of the dash corres onding with the breadth of the collar c, w ile the distance between each collar is represented by a space on the strip of paper passing through the receiver.- The number and length of'the dashes made de ends'on the number and width of the 001' are.

B the arrangement described the'use of 0100 -work in an instrument for transmitting a fire call in an automatic fire alarm or sprinkler system is eliminated.

Having now described our invention what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a fire alarm or sprinkler system, a

transmitting instrument comprising a vessel,

containing liquid, for communication with a pressure duct of an alarm orsprinkler s stein a fioat which rises and falls with said iq uid, when the level of such is efi'ected by the pressure in the duct, and a stationary elec-' trical contact lever and a pivotal electrical contact lever and means connected with the; float for moving thepivoted electrical contact lever-on the descent of said iioat.

2'. In a fire alarm or sprinkler system, a transmittin instrument comprising a vessel, containing iqu d of high density, for communication wit a duct of an alarm or sprinkler system, a cylinder a tube extendingvfrom said cylinder and having one end immersed in the liquid of high density, a float in said cylinder, a spindle secured to said float and fitted with a succession of collars, and electrical contact levers winch are normally separated but which are successively brought into contact by the collars on the descending 3. In a fire alarm or sprinkler system, a transmitting instrument coinprislng a chamber Which is adapted ior conimunlcatlon With v a pressure duct of an alarm or sprinkler systeni, a second chamber, means connecting said chamber and permitting liquld to pass back and forth from one chamber to the other, a float in the said second' chamber,

normally separated electrical contact levers,

.JAMES FIDDES. JOHN FORDYCE WATT.

Witnesses:

WALLACE FAIBWEATHER', JNo. ARMSTRONG, Junr. 

